Ma Neteyam

36

" I will not apologize for anything, I have done nothing wrong."

" Not only have you admitted to letting that boy bond with the outcast, but you dare talk back to the Toruk Makto and his wife!"

" That coward is no longer Toruk Makto. He gave up that title the second he abandoned his 'homeland '."

Vareya and her uncle began their argument after he sent Ronal and her cousins away so that he could have 'some privacy with his niece'. She knew what was coming, but she also knew how to defend herself. The only thing she hoped was that Neteyam, who was in a very similar situation, was holding his ground as well.

In clear distress, Tonowari rubbed his temple as he sighed. " All I ask is for you to respect them-"

" The same way they respect me? The same way they respect their children?" she hissed back.

" How they decide to raise their children is none of your concern. And how can they respect you when from the moment you met them you've scowled in their faces!"

" I can care less what they assume about me any more, but how they treat Neteyam is of my concern." She froze, hesitating before admitting strongly, " He means a lot to me."

At her change of tone, he himself lowered his voice. " I am glad that you were finally able to make another close relationship Vareya, but there are boundaries that come with that. His family has different rules that may require you and the Sully boy to take this slowly."

She felt her blood begin to boil, " Boundaries? Rules? I'm no longer a child Uncle so say what you truly mean. Tell me what you and everyone else thinks."

He lifted his head, " I don't understand-"

" Yes you do. You believe that I am a bad example for the boy. You agree with his parents. You believe that I'll turn him into me." she spat.

" That is ridiculous. How can you say such nonsense!"

" I agree, it is nonsense, yet it doesn't make it untrue. I will tell you this, you cannot banish me any longer, you cannot make me lose this relationship. You know why? Because he was the first person in seven years to truly fight for me. To truly care and not give up. For that I owe it to him to stand up when he can't."

" I have never banished you! All I have ever wanted was to have you in my life but you only pushed me away! You've pushed everyone away!" he yelled angrily.

" Yet you still gave up on me when I had no one!" Despite herself, she couldn't stop the crack in her voice that escaped. It made it sound as if she was still hurt by it. As if she still held that grudge...

No, she had come to terms with it long time ago. She accepted her banishment. It didn't matter, it no longer bothered her one bit . She was simply stating what she already knew.

Yet Tonowari, his eyes portrayed nothing but guilt, "Vareya, I wished for nothing more then to help you during that time. But you were hurt, you were angry, you didn't allow me to help you heal, you chose to do that all alone."

She snarled, " Heal? I have not healed Uncle, I don't think that part of me ever will heal. How I was seven years ago was better compared to the rage I feel today. Yet surprisingly enough, a strange forest boy who knew nothing about me, managed to pry his was into my life.

Not because it was easy but because he had it in his heart to care for someone who mattered to no one. Because he didn't give up when it was hard, and he persisted and made the unwanted feel welcome."

She took a breath before continuing on, " I have been far from perfect my entire existence, I understand that. What I don't understand is how you can stand there, and blame a young girl who had lost everything for pushing you away. I don't understand how you can't see, that by you letting me be, by you not trying to get me out of that secluded hut, simply made your life easier and kept the clan satisfied."